On Will Ohman

[jjgman21]

the man has his critics. I like him. I was thinking about his performance yesterday, and it occurred to me that the majority of runs the guy has given up this year have come in blow outs. looking at his game log confirms it.

 

Ohman's totals after game 1 today

 

46.2 IP, 26 R allowed (all earned)

 

some highlights from his game log

 

4/11 came into the game in 6th, down 4-0, gave up 5 runs over 0 inn

4/29 came into the game in 6th, down 10-0, gave up 3 runs over 2 inn

5/4 came into game in 9th, down 5-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

5/18 came into the game in 5th, down 4-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

6/13 came into the game in 9th, down 6-1, gave up 3 runs in 1 inn

6/26 came into the game in 9th, down 5-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

7/31 came into the game in 8th, down 10-3, gave up 5 in 1 inn

8/3 came into the game in 7th down 7-1, gave up 2 in 2 inn

 

I know a pitcher needs to get guys out in all situations, but isn't this just a glaring example of a guy with a "closer mentaility" aka doesn't focus or get hyped or whatever if the game isn't on the line?

 

Ohman's line if taking away his performance in these blowouts

 

37.2 IP, 5 runs allowed.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

[Mizzou]

some highlights from his game log

 

4/11 came into the game in 6th, down 4-0, gave up 5 runs over 0 inn

5/18 came into the game in 5th, down 4-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

 

Ohman's line if taking away his performance in these blowouts

 

37.2 IP, 5 runs allowed.

I'd hardly consider the above two games blowouts. There were others that I wouldn't consider blowouts, but especially these two. If you factor these games in, he's given up 11 runs in 38.2 innings. Still much better than his overall numbers, but not as good as the picture you painted.

[goonys evil twin]

some highlights from his game log

 

4/11 came into the game in 6th, down 4-0, gave up 5 runs over 0 inn

5/18 came into the game in 5th, down 4-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

 

Ohman's line if taking away his performance in these blowouts

 

37.2 IP, 5 runs allowed.

I'd hardly consider the above two games blowouts. There were others that I wouldn't consider blowouts, but especially these two. If you factor these games in, he's given up 11 runs in 38.2 innings. Still much better than his overall numbers, but not as good as the picture you painted.

 

We're talking about the Cubs offense, down 4, that late, it's a blowout.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

 

Exactly. He's a fantastic LOOGY.

[jjgman21]

some highlights from his game log

 

4/11 came into the game in 6th, down 4-0, gave up 5 runs over 0 inn

5/18 came into the game in 5th, down 4-0, gave up 1 run in 1 inn

 

Ohman's line if taking away his performance in these blowouts

 

37.2 IP, 5 runs allowed.

I'd hardly consider the above two games blowouts. There were others that I wouldn't consider blowouts, but especially these two. If you factor these games in, he's given up 11 runs in 38.2 innings. Still much better than his overall numbers, but not as good as the picture you painted.

 

We're talking about the Cubs offense, down 4, that late, it's a blowout.

 

exactly. at that point of the ballgame they had 4 hits, one by Rusch, against a pitcher they were shut down by (until the late innings) only a few days earlier. they weren't hitting Arroyo that day.

 

as for loogie v. closer mentality, about 30/50 of his appearances have been for at least an inning, I think only 5 or 6 have been for one batter. he's obviously better against lefties, but it doesn't seem that alone would account for it since presumably he's facing righties in alot of those innings he goes 1+ innings.

[Texas Goat Farmer]

Dusty has used him differently this year from last year. Last year, he was brought in mainly to face a lefty, may face a righty if the next batter was also a lefty.

 

This year, Dusty has depended on Eyre for that job mostly, even tho he has faced both leftys and rightys.

 

I have thought all year it has been his usage that has contributed to his inflated stats.

[Outshined_One]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

 

Exactly. He's a fantastic LOOGY.

 

Problem is, he's faced 112 righties this year as compared to 79 lefties.

 

What the hell Dusty's thinking with this guy is anyone's guess. His numbers against lefties this season have been really, really good. Against righties...things get ugly.

 

Cripes, he has a .72 WHIP against lefties and a 1.04 WHIP against righties.

 

This is like Mike Remlinger all over again. Ugh.

[WrigleyField 22]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

 

Exactly. He's a fantastic LOOGY.

 

Problem is, he's faced 112 righties this year as compared to 79 lefties.

 

What the hell Dusty's thinking with this guy is anyone's guess. His numbers against lefties this season have been really, really good. Against righties...things get ugly.

 

Cripes, he has a .72 WHIP against lefties and a 1.04 WHIP against righties.

This is like Mike Remlinger all over again. Ugh.

 

Its even worse. At least with Rem we knew Dusty was just too stupid to grasp the reverse splits concept. With Ohman, Dusty could follow his 'convential wisdom' and still be right.

[baseball7897]

Will Ohman has alot of value for a playoff team. Every playoff team would love to have Ohman, for the reason he can get that tough left-handed hitter out.

[soccer10k]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

 

Exactly. He's a fantastic LOOGY.

 

Problem is, he's faced 112 righties this year as compared to 79 lefties.

 

What the hell Dusty's thinking with this guy is anyone's guess. His numbers against lefties this season have been really, really good. Against righties...things get ugly.

 

Cripes, he has a .72 WHIP against lefties and a 1.04 WHIP against righties.

This is like Mike Remlinger all over again. Ugh.

 

Where did you get those numbers? Ohman has a WHIP of 1.00 vs lefties and 1.64 vs righties for a 1.35 WHIP overall.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Cripes, he has a .72 WHIP against lefties and a 1.04 WHIP against righties.

This is like Mike Remlinger all over again. Ugh.

 

Where did you get those numbers? Ohman has a WHIP of 1.00 vs lefties and 1.64 vs righties for a 1.35 WHIP overall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oooooooooo........a SABERMETRIC fight.........I cant wait to see this go down..... :P

[Illini Iceman]

I don't know if it's the closer mentality, or if it's a case of splits. When he is used in blowouts he is expected to go an inning, or more, regardless of the hitters. In a tight game, he's brought in to face a lefty, which is his job.

 

Exactly. He's a fantastic LOOGY.

 

Problem is, he's faced 112 righties this year as compared to 79 lefties.

 

What the hell Dusty's thinking with this guy is anyone's guess. His numbers against lefties this season have been really, really good. Against righties...things get ugly.

 

Cripes, he has a .72 WHIP against lefties and a 1.04 WHIP against righties.

 

This is like Mike Remlinger all over again. Ugh.

 

Having a LOOGY is a nice concept if you are a team that has starters consistently going deep into games. In that scenario you can afford to hold one guy back to just face tough lefties in key spots. Unfortunately the Cubs starters are not consistently going deep in games which forces the manager to use pitchers outside the preferred roles in order to eat up innings.

 

I think this is a big part of the reason that Ohman, Novoa, Wuertz, and Aardsma have worse numbers than they probably should. They have all had to go in for extended outings when they are ideally just one inning guys.

 

In a perfect world you would only need a mop up reliever no more than once per week and Rusch could fill that role. However, when it seems like every other game the starter can barely get through 5 innings you need to use pitchers for multiple innings to keep from having to burn through the whole bullpen.